Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 27 Apr 2023
India-Hungary Joint Working Group on Water Management
The first meeting of the India-Hungary Joint Working Group for water management cooperation was held in New Delhi where both countries discussed challenges and initiatives in the water sector. The focus was on the issue of groundwater over-exploitation and the need for proper water management practices in India. Six areas of priority for cooperation were identified, including management of extreme phenomena, exploration and management of groundwater, and mitigation of climate change's impact on water resources. A three-year working program was signed to guide future cooperation.
Hungary and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their technological, scientific, and management capabilities in water management. The two countries will cooperate in integrated water resources management, water and wastewater management, and water-related education, research and development. A field visit was organized for Hungarian experts to showcase successful interventions under the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
One Earth One Health - Advantage Healthcare India 2023 Meet
The Prime Minister inaugurated the 6th Edition of One Earth One Health – Advantage Healthcare India 2023 meet and expressed India's commitment to making healthcare accessible and affordable not only for its citizens but for the whole world. The need for an integrated, inclusive, and institutional global response to healthcare challenges was discussed and India's traditional healthcare systems that holds many answers to stress, and lifestyle diseases was highlighted. The two-day conclave, attended by Health Ministers of several countries and other stakeholders from public and private sectors, aims to promote global collaborations and partnerships for achieving Universal Health Coverage through value-based healthcare. The event also aims to showcase India's strength in medical value travel as an exporter of healthcare workforce providing value-based healthcare services and its emergence as a major hub for world-class healthcare and wellness services.
Read more: Overview of Indian Healthcare Sector
Northeast Gas Grid Project
The Prime Minister has praised the Northeast Gas Grid project for achieving a major milestone. The project has constructed a 24-inch diameter natural gas pipeline using the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method to go under the Brahmaputra River. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has shared that this achievement has set a record for the longest hydrocarbon pipeline river crossing in Asia and the second-longest in the world.
The Northeast Gas Grid project aims to provide clean and affordable energy to the Northeastern states of India and is a significant step towards achieving the country's goal of reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources. The project is part of the government’s vision to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix and develop the National Gas Grid.
Read more: The Big Picture : One Nation, One Gas Grid
Zero Shadow Day
Bengaluru experienced a unique phenomenon called Zero Shadow Day on 25th April 2023. At precisely 12:17 pm, vertical objects such as buildings and trees appeared to have no shadows. This occurred because the sun was directly overhead, at its zenith, causing the shadow to be directly beneath the object.
This event happens twice a year at every point on Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The next Zero Shadow Day for Bengaluru is on 18th August 2023. Locations outside of the tropics do not experience this phenomenon. This occurrence happens because the sun's rays fall directly perpendicular to the surface, creating a subsolar point. The subsolar point changes location as the earth rotates around the sun, and the tilt of the earth's axis causes the changing seasons. Zero Shadow Day is an important event as it helps to measure the earth's axial tilt, which is responsible for the changing seasons.